Unless the member includes contact information in the RC wording (most do not), there is no way to contact them without accepting.

Unless this is the only wisher and the book is rarely posted, consider declining the RC and let it go to the next wisher in line. If you choose to accept and pm, remember to set a deadline for response so you are not left waiting indefinately for a reply.

Everyone's thoughts were as mine one the matter (the smoker was my dad, passed away due to complications of a smoking nature last year), I'm not overly sensitive to the smell unless it is real bad (I trashed some books that were just awful and I wouldn't have ever tried to get rid of them), but my sister in law is. She has said some others in the same box didn't bother her though so I thought I'd PM the requester as it appears this book doesn't move much, but they have left me no way to contact them so their loss (this does provide me with food for thought if I ever find an RC to be necessary).

EDIT: Question for those who use this in an RC. Only about 20% of the books I personally own was I the original owner (all of the books currently posted are inheritence of a sort). How can I in good conscious respond to that RC with any book I have? I don't know their history. Should I simply always deny anyone who has the smoking RC?

I have a RC that says "not currently in a smoking household" so as long as your household doesn't have a smoker in it then the book is fine to send.

ETA: With your new facts about the book in question, the book would meet my requestor condition as your household doesn't smoke. I know it is very possible I could get a book that meets my Requestor Condition and that has a smoky odor and I'm okay with that as most can be aired out. But I made the RC after I got a booked that reeked and it has served its purpose and I haven't gotten another like that.

Now if the requestor condition is subjective then I'd say you are best to deny the request.

This issue has been debated a lot becuase ultimately smell can be somewhat subjective and many people don't word their RCs to make it easy to make a judgement call. Rebecca's suggestion about with "not currently in a smoking household" is about as clear as they come.

Personally, I'm of the mindset to deny if in doubt. I know if I do it will go back to the front of the FIFO line and someone else will hopefully request it soon. That's just my opinion, and this one really is a personal judgement call.

EDIT: Question for those who use this in an RC. Only about 20% of the books I personally own was I the original owner (all of the books currently posted are inheritence of a sort). How can I in good conscious respond to that RC with any book I have? I don't know their history. Should I simply always deny anyone who has the smoking RC?

You don't have to over-think it. The requestor with the "not currently in a smoking home" isn't asking for it's full history. So as long as it's not in a currently smoking home, and you can't smell smoke on it, they they're good to go.

Alisa is right, and over all the discussions in the past, this has been the recommended phrase for those who are willing to take a chance a book's history.

The links were especially helpful. I was on the fence with the whole concept anyways because although I have turned down a very good deal on a car because it smelled to high heaven. It appeared that all the power for the RC was on the side of the receiver, and I could easily see someone putting this on their RC and trying to get free books with a few credits (aka if it smells like a rat). But it doesn't appear this would be a systemic problem without TPTB stepping in.

So basically (with the exception of the books I have posted, NOTE: they are not currently in a smoking home, the smoker passed away, but I understand the intent of the RC) just reply to the RC's literally and you should be OK. If the RC's are vague then error on the side of caution.

The sender is always the one with the power over returning a credit. If they have an RC saying "no smoke smell" and you send them a book you acquired after the smoker was no longer present, that you know didn't smell like smoke-if they ding you for you, you still have control over the credit refund. Even an unresolved RWP against you would only flag your account if you getting a lot of RWPs.

When you are looking at an RC, there is no PM button to contact the requestor. RCs are designed to work without needing a PM exchange. If the requestor includes his or her PBS nickname (or a link to his profile) in the RC, then you have a way of contacting him.

You have the option of accepting the RC and choosing an "I can mail by..." date (preferable the latest date available to allow for a PM exchange) and then you'll have the PM button. But if they don't reply to your PM before your mailing deadline, you'll be in an awkward position. Sometimes that's okay, but often it's better to decline an RC if you aren't sure.

If you want the requestor to be able to contact you, include your PBS nickname (or link) in your message declining the RC. That way the requestor can look you up in the membership directory if he has questions.

I do have an RC stating no books smelling of smoke or anything smelling musty/mildewy should be sent. I'd rather have people not send me the book than watch my daughter suffer because she's been exposed to her two biggest allergens. She's not quite to the point of an asthma attack, but she becomes very watery eyed and her sinuses do swell up so that we have to give her Benadryl to get things back to normal. I'd honestly rather wait for the next copy even if it means months.

People can smell different things too. I know I'm super sensitive to smells. I once smelled a gas leak in my kitchen and no one else could. We called the gas guy and even he couldn't smell anything,. But, to ease my mind, he did a check with the liquid gas check stuff and sure enough there was a tiny leak at our stove's regulator.